Modifié 24 janv. 2022 à 9 h 29
I’m a big fan of Connor Brown, I think he’s one of the more underrated players in the NHL. He would fit nicely into n Colorado’s middle six and help them on special teams.
I was tinkering with a Brown to COL trade yesterday, and personally I would have done this one of two ways.
1. Jost + pick for Brown: Jost’s $2M plus Colorado’s cap space is just enough to fit Brown’s contract under the salary cap. Even though Compher plays a bigger role for the Avs, I think Jost would be more valuable to the Sens as the younger player. Maybe you can get away with Jost + and 2nd or 3rd.
2. Prospect + pick for Brown with 50% retained: If you’re going to pay the price for Ottawa to retain, I think you go all in. It would be costly, you can point to the Blake Coleman trade to Tampa as an example (NJ didn’t retain but the cap hit and years remaining would be the same). But Colorado would have Brown this year and next for under $2M against the cap. Would Kaut + 1st Rd Pick get it done?
My hesitation with a Connor Brown trade is that I think Colorado could get a better player for a similar return. The value of his contract and the fact that Brown has term left (doesn’t need to be traded) will drive up the price. Personally I would also prefer a player than can play center if needed just in case you have an injury or suspension in the playoffs. The Avs have limited cap space, limited assets, and limited space on the roster. I would guess they only add one significant forward, if any, so it will be important that they get it right. Does Brown for 2 years put you over the top in the same way that a Giroux or Hertl would as a rental? I’m not sure.
If Colorado makes a deal with Ottawa, I think Anton Forsberg is another guy to watch. Unfortunately they still don’t have a solid 3rd goaltender after Johansson was claimed by FLA last month. Forsberg is a pending UFA, and the Sens have a good young goalie in Gustavsson plus money tied up in Murray. Forsberg won a Calder Cup with Bednar in Cleveland.